'Identity Thief' Leads Slow Overall Monday

Universal's Identity Thief led the way at the daily box office on Monday with $0.934 million. The break-out comedy starring Jason Bateman and Melissa McCarthy fell 71 percent from Sunday and 75 percent from last Monday's inflated Presidents Day performance. Identity Thief continues to exceed expectations and has now grossed $94.55 million in 18 days. That leaves the film just $5.45 million away from becoming the first release of 2013 to reach the $100 million domestic milestone.

Snitch placed in a close second with $0.888 million. The Dwayne Johnson vehicle from Lionsgate and Summit trailed Identity Thief by a slim $46,803 on Monday. Snitch fell 74 percent from Sunday, which was in line with the type of daily declines experienced by most wide releases on Monday. Snitch has grossed $14.06 million in four days. That is in line with pre-release expectations and places the film 8 percent behind the $15.26 million four-day start of 2006's Gridiron Gang.

Fox's A Good Day to Die Hard landed in third place with $0.754 million. The fifth installment of the action franchise starring Bruce Willis was down 71 percent from Sunday and down 80 percent from last Monday. A Good Day to Die Hard has grossed a softer than expected $52.72 million through twelve days of release, though it should be reminded that the film continues to perform far stronger overseas.

Relativity's Safe Haven took fourth place with $0.617 million. Like A Good Day to Die Hard, the romantic drama starring Josh Duhamel and Julianne Hough also fell 71 percent from Sunday and 80 percent from last Monday. Safe Haven has grossed $48.53 million in twelve days. That is in line with expectations and leaves the film just $1.47 million away from clearing the $50 million mark.

Turning towards Sunday's major Academy Award winners, The Weinstein Company's Silver Linings Playbook led the way with an overall fifth place take of $0.561 million. On the heels of Jennifer Lawrence's win for Best Actress, the film was down 57 percent from Sunday. Monday grosses for other winners of major Academy Awards included $275,672 for Life of Pi (down only 31 percent from Sunday), $226,304 for Argo (down 42 percent), $128,559 for Django Unchained (down 45 percent), $118,137 for Lincoln (down 68 percent) and $90,295 for Les Misérables (down 42 percent).